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Physical properties of hydrogel wound dressing and its use in low-level laser therapy (LLLT)

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Abstract

Hydrogel dressings are routinely used in the treatment of superficial skin wounds. Due to their excellent transparency, we decided to evaluate their usefulness in laser-based medical procedures. We focused on assessing selected physical properties of HydroAid hydrogel wound dressing, used for low-level laser therapy (LLLT) aka laser biostimulation procedures. For the two wavelengths of 660 and 808 nm used in the biostimulation laser POLARIS 2, a dressing transmittance of 92 and 98%, respectively, was determined. Using a FLIR i7 thermal imaging camera, the changes in temperature distribution across the surface of the dressing were assessed, during a 3-h period following its unpacking and placing on the skin of a patient or leaving it at the ambient temperature. The results of the thermal imaging, as well as temperature measurements using a digital thermometer, showed that the cooling properties of a hydrogel dressing were maintained throughout the entire experiment and that it was capable to keep the temperature at least 5° below the skin/ambient (room) temperature. During the 6-h observation using the holographic microscope, which provided indirect insight into the processes occurring within the hydrogel, only minimum topographical changes (observable at a micrometre scale) were recorded, although dressing thickness and its flexibility decreased significantly with time. Additionally, the possibility to regenerate the hydrogel dressing by treating it with distilled water or a physiological salt solution was tested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Miniinvasion Surgery, Endomedical Hospital, Chwaliszewo 19a Street, 61-105, Poznan, Poland

    K. Wachal

  2. Division of Metrology and Measurement Systems, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Management, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 3, 60-965, Poznan, Poland

    K. Wachal, E. Stachowska, K. Korpuścińska & B. Nowak

  3. First Department and Clinic of General and Vascular Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Przemienienia Pańskiego Clinical Hospital, Poznan, Poland

    Z. Krasiński

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  1. K. Wachal
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  2. E. Stachowska
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  3. K. Korpuścińska
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  4. B. Nowak
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  5. Z. Krasiński
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Correspondence to K. Wachal.

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Wachal, K., Stachowska, E., Korpuścińska, K. et al. Physical properties of hydrogel wound dressing and its use in low-level laser therapy (LLLT). Lasers Med Sci 33, 1317–1325 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-018-2484-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-018-2484-y

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